NFC Championship Game Preview: Giants vs. 49ers

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NFC Championship Game Preview: Giants vs. 49ers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The NFC Championship will have an old school feel on Sunday, but San Francisco’s Candlestick Park is set to unveil the newest chapter of a familiar postseason rivalry.

This will be the 8th all time meeting between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants in the postseason. San Francisco leads the all time playoff series 4-3.

The 49ers (14-3) are having a miracle season after finishing 6-10 last year. First year head coach Jim Harbaugh has led the 49ers to their first postseason appearance since 2003.

Last week’s win over the Saints marked the first 49ers playoff win since a thrilling 39-38 win over the Giants in a 2003 wild card playoff in San Francisco. That was the last time these two teams met in the postseason, a game in which the Giants blew a 24 point lead.

The Giants (11-7) are riding a tidal wave of momentum right now after two huge playoff wins. After handing Atlanta a 24-2 loss, they shocked the No. 1 seeded Green Bay Packers 37-20 at Lambeau Field. Giants quarterback Eli Manning now has a playoff record of 6-3.

Sunday, Eli will lead a top five passing attack against a top five defense that features two former Missouri Tigers. Rookie outside linebacker Aldon Smith, and Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Smith, have certainly helped propel the 49ers defense with a combined 21.5 sacks this year.

The Giants are 4-0 all time in NFC Championship games. The 49ers are 5-7. Earlier this season, San Francisco beat the Giants at Candlestick Park 27-20. Both franchises have had their share of Super Bowl success. The 49ers have won five Super Bowls. The Giants have won three.